Manuel's Vintage Room is tucked away on South Main Street in downtown Gainesville. An intimate Italian hideaway, the family owned restaurant just so happens to serve some of the best pasta this side of the Atlantic. Manuel's ala carte style menu can be a bit pricey at times, but it's well worth it for the chef's decadent flavors and robust dishes.

Snuggled into a corner booth facing the street, candles flickered on the table as I perused the menu while sipping my glass of Pinot Noir. Manuel's extensive wine list will satisfy any vino connoisseur's palette.

Our appetizer was a tough choice between the Mushroom Crostini--portobello mushrooms marinated in a wine sauce over a gorgonzola spread topping a crispy miniature flatbread--and the Snails simmered in butter, garlic and seasonings.

In the end, we both decided to be adventurous and the snails won out. So dainty and delicious, the sea mollusk was just the right texture with a burst of strong garlic flavor. The buttery leftovers turned out to be a perfect dipping sauce for the complimentary bread.

Lobster Ravioli

Being a big fan of Manuel's seafood based dishes already, I knew one of us had to get the Lobster Ravioli. The truffle cream sauce added a sweet tinge to the otherwise savory dish.

Capellini with Shrimp by Jacob Romoser

I was craving a little spice so I went for the Capellini with Shrimp. The angel-hair pasta tossed with sautéed shrimp, chorizo, onions, and tomatoes in an oil and garlic sauce was light yet full-bodied. I was exactly sure what to do with the shrimp tails and looked quite unladylike in my attempt to remove them. The chorizo's distinctive smokiness was a perfect mix with the citrus afterthought of the tomatoes.

Tiramisu

This time, I knew there was no turning down dessert. Manuel's Tiramisu tastes like a small piece of cloud drizzled in chocolate. This dessert was by far the lightest I have ever tasted. Rich and warm, the dish kept me oohing and aahing with each bite. The mix of cocoa and ladyfingers went nicely with the decorative fruit on top.